Sign character.



R. T. SAVAGE.

SIGN CHARACTER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 001215, 1912.

1,068,535, Patented July 29, 1913.

l0 l0 Q .f6 (49j /a @A Q Q Q QQ@ Q Q 34 L m @91% l. i wy 3J' 33 f 34 in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the sockets 19 are formed integral with the terminal plates 17, While the contacts 20 are in the form of projections formed integral with the rear terminal plate 18. These three figures show very clearly how, when the stems `of the lamps are inserted through the openingsin the face of the casing, they pass into the sockets provided for that purpose, thereby making electrical contact with such sockets, while the end terminals 21 of the lamps make engagement with the contacts j20, which are disposed in line withA the sockets.'

The terminal plates may be insulated from each other in various ways. Thus, as best shown in Fig.- 4, they may be spaced apart by blocks or spacers 22 of suitable insulating material. These blocks or' spacers may be held in place and the terminal plates be united to form a unitary frame by means of screws 23 or other suitable fastenings. With the two terminal plates spaced apart'as in Figs. 3, 4 and f5, one ofthe plates rests against the inside wall of the face of the cas-` ing, while the other plate rests against the inside wall of the back of the casing. Sincel the frame which carries the lamp terminals follows more or less closely the outline of the sign character, it will be held in proper position simply by inserting it within the 'casing, but if desired itk may be positively se cured in place within'the casing as Iby means of suitable. fastening screws 424 w ich,` as shown in Fig. 4, may be entered through the back and into engagementwith the blocks 22 of spacing insulation. A

Another Way of* constructing the frame which carries the lamp terminalsis illus-l trated inTigs. 6 and v7, wherein the two terminal'plate's 17 and'18, instead of being oppositely disposed, as in the first form, are merely superposed one on 'top of the other and separated by a layerof suitable insulation 25. In this `form the terminals 20 which ,are engaged bythe end terminals on the lamps preferably passup into the base ofthe sockets 19, they being insulatedtherefrom by suitable insulating bushings 26.'

The need for these insulating bushings is do'ne away with in the first form bf'the in`- vention, because there the terminals20 need' not actually pass up into -the 'Sockets' 19. Thus, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a considerable intervening space may be left between theend of the socket 19and the terminal 20 cessed to receivethe conductors 28. In the present instance the base of the casing is grooved as at 29 to receive the respective conductors.' A simple and preferredmethd of connecting the conductors with' the terjects down to the lower conductor to which itis connected as by means of a clip 33.

The various sign characters may be secured in proper relation as by lfastening them all to a common support, such as the bar 34, illustrated in Fig. 1. The various characters may be secured either to the front or to the back of the supporting bar, or they may simply be secured on the tcp ofthe bar. In the illustration they are shown as being secured to the back of such support,

screws 35 being employed for fastening the characters to the bar. And in the case illustrated the base of the sign character'is shown as recessed or shouldered, as indicated at 36, to receive the supporting bar. f

Instead of using screws or like fastenings for holding the parts of the casing in assembled relation, the lamps themselves may be `used for this purpose. This feature will be clear from Figs. 3, 4, and 5, in each ofwhich it will be seenthat when the lamp` is threaded into its socket, the globe portion of the lamp will be .brought into engagement with the face of the casing immediately -sur rounding the lamp op'enm therein. And when, as shown in Fig, 4, t e lamp sockets are secured to the back of the casing, this will serve to effectually secure the two parts of the .casing together.

What is claimed,"is:

1. In a sign character, a casing shaped to form a letter or other s mbol and provided with openings in the ace of the same, a

`terminalplate withinl said casing having lamp sockets formedV inte al therewith, a second terminal plate havlng integral contacts formed thereon in line with the sockets on the first plate, and means for connecting electric 'conductors to. the respective terminal plates.

2.` In a sign character, a. hollow casing provided with suitably spaced openings in the face ofthe same', a terminal plate within' the casing resting against the inside wall of the face of the casing, sockets carried by said plate in linev with the openings in the face of the casing, a second terminal plate within the casin insulated from the first terminal plate an resting'against the inside wall of the back of the casing, contacts carried by the second terminal plate in line with the sockets of the first terminal plate, and means for connecting electric conductors to the respective terminal plates.

3. A sign character comprising a casin and a terminal frame engaged within sai casing, the said terminal frame consisting of a front and a back terminal plate insulated from and secured in spaced relation to each other, the said front late having sockets formed integral therewith and projecting rearwardly toward the back plate, and the back plate having integral contacts formed thereon in line with the sockets and projecting forwardly toward the front plate.

4. A sign character comprising a hollow casing provided with a base ooved to re- Iceive electrical conductors, a rame engaged within the hollow casing, made up of a pair of insulated terminal plates, suitable terminals carried by the respective plates to be engaged by electric lamps, conductors engaged within the grooves in the base, and the terminal plates having extensions projecting down into the grooves and connected respectively to the conductors within such grooves.

Signed at Spring Lake, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, this A8th day of October, A. D. 1912.

RAY T. SAVAGE. Witnesses:

CHRISTIAN KYSATT, WALTER KERR. 

